https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed German rail operator Deutsche Bahn plans to begin selling last-minute ticket deals for long-distance travel in a bid to fill-up empty seats. https://www.thelocal.de/20260505/deutsche-bahn-to-offer-discounted-last-minute-tickets-for-long-distance-trains Tue, 05 May 2026 12:34:11 +0200 deutsche-bahn-to-offer-discounted-last-minute-tickets-for-long-distance-trains From May 1st it will be possible for the first time in ten years to get a direct train from Copenhagen to Prague via Berlin. The full journey is expected to take 11 hours, or 7 hours between Copenhagen and Berlin. https://www.thelocal.de/20260430/first-train-in-a-decade-between-copenhagen-berlin-and-prague-to-depart-on-friday Thu, 30 Apr 2026 11:19:42 +0200 first-train-in-a-decade-between-copenhagen-berlin-and-prague-to-depart-on-friday Deutsche Bahn hopes that prohibiting the consumption of alcohol at Berlin’s Zoologischer Garten and Ostbahnhof stations will make the transport hubs cleaner and safer. https://www.thelocal.de/20260429/alcohol-ban-at-two-berlin-train-stations-begins-on-may-1st Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:40:45 +0200 alcohol-ban-at-two-berlin-train-stations-begins-on-may-1st Cycling fatalities are rising in Germany, despite safer trends elsewhere in Europe. New figures show that older e‑bike riders are most at risk – and many crashes involve cars rather than other cyclists. https://www.thelocal.de/20260428/germany-sees-sharp-rise-in-cycling-deaths Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:25:32 +0200 germany-sees-sharp-rise-in-cycling-deaths Ryanair, Transavia, Volotea and other low-cost airlines are feeling the financial pain from high jet fuel prices as a result of the Middle East war and are cutting flights. https://www.thelocal.de/20260428/budget-airlines-first-to-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-prices-soar Tue, 28 Apr 2026 08:39:16 +0200 budget-airlines-first-to-cut-flights-as-jet-fuel-prices-soar Long‑distance rail passengers in Germany will be spared a general increase in ticket prices for the next year, after Deutsche Bahn announced an unusual one‑year fare freeze despite rising fuel and energy costs. https://www.thelocal.de/20260427/deutsche-bahn-announces-12-month-ticket-price-freeze-for-long-distance-travel Mon, 27 Apr 2026 10:40:02 +0200 deutsche-bahn-announces-12-month-ticket-price-freeze-for-long-distance-travel Budget airline Ryanair said Friday that it would reduce flights to and from Berlin starting in October and relocate aircraft based in the German capital, citing comparatively high costs and taxes. https://www.thelocal.de/20260424/ryanair-to-significantly-cut-flights-from-berlin-from-october Fri, 24 Apr 2026 16:06:53 +0200 ryanair-to-significantly-cut-flights-from-berlin-from-october Europe is bracing for potential jet fuel shortages resulting from the ongoing international conflict in the Middle East. If your flight is affected, what are your rights? https://www.thelocal.de/20260424/will-you-be-compensated-if-your-european-flight-is-cancelled-due-to-jet-fuel-shortages Fri, 24 Apr 2026 13:10:14 +0200 will-you-be-compensated-if-your-european-flight-is-cancelled-due-to-jet-fuel-shortages Lufthansa is cancelling thousands of short‑haul flights as sky‑high fuel prices linked to the war in Iran force the airline to 'optimise' its schedule. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/lufthansa-cuts-20000-flights-as-fuel-crisis-bites-in-germany Wed, 22 Apr 2026 10:16:24 +0200 lufthansa-cuts-20000-flights-as-fuel-crisis-bites-in-germany The EU has moved to tighten rules on pet passports, closing a loophole that has been used by many British second-home owners since Brexit. https://www.thelocal.de/20260422/eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets Wed, 22 Apr 2026 09:29:35 +0200 eu-tightens-rules-for-brits-travelling-to-europe-with-pets The European Union said on Tuesday that it was considering importing more jet fuel from the US and requiring member states to hold minimum reserves as the Middle East war squeezes supplies. Brussels will lay out a series of measures on Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/we-must-be-ready-eu-to-lay-out-its-plan-to-deal-with-jet-fuel-crisis Tue, 21 Apr 2026 14:48:22 +0200 we-must-be-ready-eu-to-lay-out-its-plan-to-deal-with-jet-fuel-crisis Popular flight routes around Europe are almost impossible for passengers to book by train because of a "stone age" ticketing system, a new report has found as the EU is set to unveil plans for it single ticket system. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/stone-age-ticket-system-preventing-travellers-in-europe-from-taking-trains Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:50:54 +0200 stone-age-ticket-system-preventing-travellers-in-europe-from-taking-trains As war in Iran pushes jet‑fuel prices higher, flights from Germany could become more expensive and less predictable in the months ahead. Here’s what that means for bookings, prices – and your rights. https://www.thelocal.de/20260421/what-travellers-in-germany-need-to-know-about-the-jet-fuel-crisis Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:41:44 +0200 what-travellers-in-germany-need-to-know-about-the-jet-fuel-crisis Transport ticket machines around Berlin have stopped accepting cash payments due to a 'technical malfunction', but city officials suggest it's time to retire the machines altogether. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/will-berlin-get-rid-of-its-public-transport-ticket-machines Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:43:17 +0200 will-berlin-get-rid-of-its-public-transport-ticket-machines From late spring, Germany will see the launch of new direct trains from Dresden, Berlin and Hamburg to the Danish capital. https://www.thelocal.de/20260420/new-direct-trains-from-germany-to-copenhagen-to-launch-this-spring Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:52:00 +0200 new-direct-trains-from-germany-to-copenhagen-to-launch-this-spring A bitter conflict pitting Lufthansa management against much of the German airline's workforce has been left "more entrenched than ever" after a week of industrial unrest, one of the unions involved said Friday. https://www.thelocal.de/20260418/lufthansa-labour-conflict-more-entrenched-than-ever-unions-say Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:54:18 +0200 lufthansa-labour-conflict-more-entrenched-than-ever-unions-say The head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Friday called on authorities to put "well-coordinated plans in place" in the event of jet-fuel rationing due to the Middle East war. https://www.thelocal.de/20260418/airlines-fear-jet-fuel-rationing-due-to-mideast-war Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:14:22 +0200 airlines-fear-jet-fuel-rationing-due-to-mideast-war The risk of jet fuel shortages in Europe grows each day tankers remain stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, although it isn't clear when exactly supplies will run out and what that will mean for travellers. https://www.thelocal.de/20260417/how-soon-could-jet-fuel-shortages-ground-flights-in-europe Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:50:53 +0200 how-soon-could-jet-fuel-shortages-ground-flights-in-europe Germany's leading airline has seen three different worker strikes in the past week, resulting in the cancellation of hundreds of flights each day. We asked passengers about their experiences – some say they're calling it quits. https://www.thelocal.de/20260417/messy-breakup-travellers-in-germany-frustrated-with-ongoing-lufthansa-strikes Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:01:07 +0200 messy-breakup-travellers-in-germany-frustrated-with-ongoing-lufthansa-strikes Germany's biggest airline has been hit by back to back to back workers' strikes this week, in addition to facing a looming jet fuel shortage. Now its announced the closure of its regionally-focused subsidiary. https://www.thelocal.de/20260416/germanys-lufthansa-to-close-cityline-unit-over-strike-jet-fuel-prices Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:43:59 +0200 germanys-lufthansa-to-close-cityline-unit-over-strike-jet-fuel-prices